For the first time, SriLankan Airlines would promote cruise tourism in a bid to generate additional revenues to the airline, Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport and the Hambantota harbour. A H M Hisbullah, Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Nishantha Wickramasinghe, Chairman, SriLankan Airlines and Derrick Karunaratne, CEO, Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport with officials at the AT M press conference. Picture by Shirajiv Sirimane Nishantha Wickramasinghe, Chairman SriLankan Airlines speaking to Daily News Business at the ATM in Dubai, said that promoting cruise tourism could derive additional revenues for the three institutions and hotels in the Deep South. He said that cruiser ships could be anchored at the Hambantota Port and excursions arranged for its passengers to the Yala National Park and other places of interest and then either fly back from MIRA to any international destination or fly to Colombo for shopping or entertainment. He said that Singapore is now a recognized cruise hub where people from most of the Asian countries fly to enjoy cruise expeditions and then fly back. “We want to introduce this model to Hambantota,” he said. The Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) which consists of a 3,500 metre runway can accommodate the world’s largest of aircraft, such as the A380s. “This would be another advantage for this initiative.” The Chairman also said that this proposal had already been forwarded to two leading Asian cruise operators and the response was positive.
A H M Hisbullah, Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Nishantha Wickramasinghe, Chairman, SriLankan Airlines and Derrick Karunaratne, CEO, Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport with officials at the AT M press conference. Picture by Shirajiv Sirimane
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